Difference between simple and modified mastectomy?

• A. Lymph node removal
• B. Is reconstruction required?
• C. Number of incisions
• D. Radiation timing

Answer: (A)

The key distinction is whether axillary lymph nodes are removed. A simple (total) mastectomy removes breast tissue (often with skin and nipple), but does not systematically remove axillary lymph nodes. A modified radical mastectomy includes removal of breast tissue plus axillary lymph nodes (levels I–II, with the skin and nipple–areola complex usually removed as well). This lymph node dissection is what sets the two procedures apart, because it directly affects nodal staging, prognosis, and decisions about adjuvant therapy. Reconstruction can be performed with either approach, and the number of incisions or the timing of radiation depends on the overall treatment plan rather than the type of mastectomy alone.